US and Germany Believe Sinwar's Death Could Propel Efforts to End Gaza Conflict

The US and Germany said the killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar can "provide momentum to end the conflict in the Gaza Strip." In a joint statement Friday, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said: "Yahya Sinwar was a brutal murderer and terrorist who was bent on eradicating Israel and its people.".

As a brutal mastermind of the October 7 (2023) terror attacks, he brought death to thousands of people and immeasurable suffering across an entire region. "Sinwar stood in the way of a ceasefire in Gaza. His death can create a momentum to end the conflict.". All hostages need to be released, they stated following their meeting in Berlin earlier on Friday. The two leaders also stressed the surge of humanitarian aid for civilians in Gaza. "At the same time, humanitarian aid must be surged to the civilians in Gaza in need. Germany and the United States, together with partners, won't spare any effort on this path," they said.

Israel on Thursday evening confirmed that it has eliminated Yahya Sinwar, the architect of the horrific October 7, 2023, attacks that killed 1200 people in Israel and saw over 250 being taken as hostages. "It has taken one long and strenuous pursuit in an entire year, our forces succeeded yesterday to eliminate Yahya Sinwar, leader of Hamas terror organization and key figure behind the massacre and kidnapping of many Israelis. I had the pleasure to meet the force that knocked him off yesterday in battles in the Gaza strip," said Lt. Col. Herzi Halevi, Chief of Staff of Israel Defence Forces (IDF), late Thursday evening. Sinwar has been appointed as the head of Hamas' political bureau, replacing Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in Tehran, where he was in attendance for the swearing-in ceremony of Iran's newly-elected President Masoud Pezeshkian in July of this year.

Israel has been conducting a massive operation against Hamas in the Gaza Strip in retaliation for the October 7 attack by Hamas. Continued Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip have risen the Palestinian casualty toll to 42,500, according to a statement issued Friday by Gaza-based health authorities.